"Excerpts from the NOAA/NESDIS El Nino Watch Advisory 98-3 for March 1998: Anomalously warm sea surface temperatures (SST) cooled somewhat off the U.S. West Coast in March. In the area off southern California and Baja California, where in February temps were +4 and +5 degrees F warmer than the norm, in March SST anomalies had decreased to slightly less than 4+degrees F. Elsewhere along the coast there was little change from the SST anomaly pattern for February and high positive SSTs anomalies persist. Again, as noted before, as this pattern of seasonally warm coastal waters runs very deep, it is expected to take a considerable length of time for the heat content to erode to near seasonal norms after the ENSO driving forces subside. An effect of these warm waters is anticipated to significantly impact marine life in coastal waters through at least spring. Scientists presently conducting a research survey off southern California report that spawning of sardine and anchovy is moderate to heavy. An early and large influx of fish migrants from tropical waters is expected (e.g. several species of tunas) is anticipated. The upwelling index is close to the seasonal norm for March; nowhere does it exceed one unit of standard deviation. The large departure from normal of the position and intensity of the jet stream, an effect of the global ENSO conditions, has brought a series of storms with heavy precipitation to the central and southern regions of the West Coast, which continued into April."--Susan Smith <Susan.smith@noaa.gov>.